Intervals Explained: The Shortcut to Better Solos, Riffs & Chord Progressions

If you’ve ever learned a scale, tried to figure out why certain riffs sound great, or wondered what actually makes chords sound the way they do…
You’re dealing with intervals — whether you realise it or not.

And here’s the thing:
Once you understand how intervals work, you’ll start hearing music completely differently. You’ll write tighter riffs, create more emotional chord progressions, and improvise with actual purpose.

So let’s break down what intervals are, why they matter, and how to use them on guitar — with no fluff.

🎸 What Is an Interval?

An interval is simply the distance between two notes.

That’s it.

On guitar, that “distance” can be measured in frets, but in music theory, we give those distances names — like minor third, perfect fourth, or major sixth.

Each interval has a specific sound and emotional quality, and once you know how to recognise them, your playing opens up in a big way.

🎧 Why You Should Learn Intervals (Even Before Modes)

Here’s why intervals are a big deal:

✅ They’re the building blocks of scales, chords, and melodies
✅ They help you understand what you’re playing — not just how to play it
✅ They make your improvisation and songwriting way more intentional
✅ They’re the secret to figuring out songs by ear faster

Basically, intervals are the glue of music theory. Understand them, and everything else gets easier.

🔢 Common Intervals (And How They Sound)

Let’s go through a few you’ll use all the time:

• Minor 2nd (1 fret) — Tense and dissonant. Think "Jaws."

• Major 2nd (2 frets) — A small step, used in melodies all the time.

• Minor 3rd (3 frets) — Sad, emotional. Core of minor chords.

• Major 3rd (4 frets) — Happy, stable. Core of major chords.

• Perfect 4th (5 frets) — Powerful, often used in riffs.

• Perfect 5th (7 frets) — Very stable. Think power chords.

• Minor 6th / Major 6th (8-9 frets) — Rich, melodic intervals. Great for soloing.

• Octave (12 frets) — Same note, higher pitch. Feels complete.

Each interval creates a mood. Learning to hear and use these moods is what separates okay playing from expressive, musical playing.

🧠 Intervals on Guitar = Patterns

The good news?
On guitar, intervals are visual. Once you learn how they’re spaced on the fretboard, they become second nature.

Here’s a trick:
Play a root note, then move to another note — count the frets in between. That’s your interval.

Example:

• 3 frets = minor third

• 4 frets = major third

• 5 frets = perfect fourth

If you start to recognise how those sound and feel, you can start using them on purpose — not just by chance.

🎸 How Intervals Improve Your Playing

✅ Better Solos

Rather than just running scales, start thinking in interval jumps.
Want your solo to hit harder? Jump from the root to the perfect fifth, or from a minor third to the octave for drama.

✅ Stronger Riffs

Iconic riffs like “Smoke on the Water” or “Sunshine of Your Love” are built on recognisable interval movement. When you understand that, you can build riffs with similar punch.

✅ More Emotional Chord Progressions

Intervals make up chords — so understanding them helps you write progressions that feel tense, resolved, bright, or moody depending on what you want.

🎯 Final Tip: Don’t Memorise — Play and Listen

The best way to internalise intervals isn’t just by studying them.
Play them. Hear them. Use them.

• Sing them out loud

• Recognise them in your favourite songs

• Try writing a melody that uses just a few interval jumps

• See how different intervals feel over the same root note

Music theory should feel musical, not like maths.

🎵 Want to Make Intervals Actually Stick?

That’s exactly what I help you do in Play Smarter: Music Theory in Action — a no-fluff course that shows you how to hear, understand, and use theory on the guitar.

In the course, you’ll learn:

🎸 How to see intervals across the fretboard
🧠 How they connect to chords, riffs, and melodies
🎧 How to train your ear to recognise them quickly
✏️ How to apply them to your own songwriting or soloing

👉 Check out Play Smarter: Music Theory in Action here
It’s the theory course I wish existed when I started out — clear, practical, and designed for guitar players who want results.

Learning music theory can be tough, but it's well worth the effort. Keep at it, and if you get stuck, I'm only an email away!

Jamie